Suit of the Week

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For busy working women, the suit is often the easiest outfit to throw on in the morning. In general, this feature is not about interview suits, which should be as classic and basic as you get — instead, this feature is about the slightly different suit that is fashionable, yet professional.

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This cotton skirt suit is simple, wearable, and just slightly preppy — the small “cactus stripe” running through it reminds us of men’s seersucker suits. To make things even better, it’s on sale — was $240, now $160. (And, apparently through 9/07, and get free shipping on $100 or more.) It’s available in sizes 4 through 16. 2 Piece Cactus Stripe Jacket And Skirt Suit

Comments

I admire a crisp white suit. I admire women who can pull off a crisp white suit – especially on summer days with temperatures over 100. Unfortunately I’m not one of these women. That would look great on me for 30 minutes. Between kids, the car, and general office grime something would be on it in no time. Then the dry cleaner would inevitably leave some yellowish discoloration somewhere – from the cleaning fluid? the pressing? Not sure but white just doesn’t last long enough for me. Sigh.

there’s a woman in my office who wears a great white suit and everytime i see her in it, i always think she looks fabulous. and she’s not particularly tall or thin. it fits her well and just screams confidence. i haven’t attempted it, though.

I would never wear a white suit to work. Even when I lived in the south, it was not something I personally wanted to wear (although it would have been ok– I saw plenty of white, seersucker, linen etc. suits down there).

I have a coordinating white jacket and black suit (I know – waiter – but the piping on the suit is black. But the whole thing is linen and by the end of the day it’s dirty and wrinkled. Too bad because the suit is gorgeous on.

I wear white regularly. But I find I sit up more and walk more elegantly to keep clean. And I eat with a different cardigan on (you know, the ugly one on the back of your chair). But I make sure it’s washable – Shout is amazing – I had a cherry drink spilled on a white sweater last week and it came out of the washer looking brand new.

I love it! I have a white suit but have never worn the skirt. I just pair the jacket w/ more flowery spring skirts to make them look business appropriate. It is a very thin white jacket so the look works. It is hard to describe. The skirt would require a slip b/c it is very unforgiving.

I agree, this particular white suit looks a little frumpy on the model.

Also, agree with Mel that in (South) Florida, people do wear white suits and jackets. More to depositions than court. I’ve seen some women, the type who never wrinkle or muss, wear white cotton poplin or sateen pants suits. Usually petite/slim women, come to think of it, but not always. The suits usually look a bit more modern– one-button jacket, slight bootcut pant. I’m not describing it well.

I myself, not being tiny OR unmuss-able, have worn a white cotton poplin or picque (sp?) jacket with khaki-colored or black linen or cotton sateen pants, or a khaki-colored skirt or dress. It’s really tough in Miami to wear even light-weight wool in August if you are walking even a block or two downtown…

It’s funny, I never considered the waiter aspect. I think off-white wool (the fluffy kind– is that boiled?) would look nice in winter.

All of which is to say I think, with white, one has to pay even more attention to cut, fabric, style (and spills!) since it is less forgiving than black, but it can work.

Oh, and this summertime dressing has me thinking of the patent discussion of a day or two ago. I either heard, or read, years ago that patent was for summer.

This is a lovely suit, but I find it frustrating that it doesn’t come in any size smaller than a size 4. I find this to be the case in many women’s brands. So virtually all of my suits are from Banana Republic or Ann Taylor. Any advice on other places to look for suits in smaller sizes (that aren’t completely unaffordable)?